Improvement in hydrants



Y SSheetS--Sh-eet. De W. C. CBEGIER.

Hydran't. I y N0. 154,149. Patentedlune8,l875.

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THE GRAPHIC C0PNOT0 LITH.39&4\ PARK PLACEJLY.

De W. 6. CREGIER. Hydr'ant.

N0. 164,]49.l Paten,ted1une8,1875.

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DE w C. CREGIER.

Hydrant.

Patented June 8, 1875.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'v DEWITT C. CREGIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMFROVEM ENT iN HVDRANTS.

' Specification forming'part of Letters Patent No. 164, 149, dated June 8, 1875; application filed February 23, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, DEWITT C. CREGiER, of the city of Chicago, in'the'State of Illinois, have inventedcertain Improvements in Hydrants and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and correct description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved hydrant and attachments. Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation ofthe hydrant-case. Fig. 3 is a plan view'of top of the movable head. Fig. 4i is a plan view of bridge at C, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view, showing the arrangement of the glands of the packing-boxes B, Fig. l. Y Fig. 6 is a plan view, showing the arrangement of the nozzles and nozzle-valves at A, Figs. l and 2. Figs. 7,8, and 9 are enlarged views of a vertical section, plan, and elevation of the main valve-seatE, also of the waste-valve and chamber F, as arranged at D in Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is avertical section of the upper end of a single nozzle-hydrant constructed according to my improvements. y Y l' The same part is marked by the same letter of reference wherever it occurs in the several figures.

A, Fig. 1, is the receptacle for the branch pipe from the street-main, and the chamber in which is located the supplemental valve.' H is a supplemental valve, with a'circular stem, B, which is provided with a screw-thread. The interior of said stem is molded square nearly its entire length. I is the seat for the supplemental valve H, and is securely fixed by screw-thread or otherwise to the top of chamber A. J is the main stem or shaft, eX: tending the entire length of the hydrant-case. Its lower end is square, and is fitted to corresponding square hole in the supplemental valve H. Said stem controls the opening and closing of valves H and K and waste-valve G. K is the main valve, composed of an iron disk and leather or other suitable material, which is securely fixed to stem J, and is intended for common use. E is the seat for valve K, and is composed of brass or other suitable material, and properly secured to interior of the hydrant-case O. Fis the waste-valve chamber, and is a part of the seat E. (See Fig. 7.) Tis the stem of the waste-valve, guided by lug el, and of suitable length to be actua-ted by contact with valve K and spiral spring S. G

above the closed valve, leaving none of it to O O O is the hydrant-case or water-way. Said case is enlarged at and above the surface of the ground, for the purpose of receiving the base-ring and the hose-nozzles. P is a loose ring, forming an ornamental base to the up-l per portion of the hydrant-case, and is so attached that it may be firmly secured to the sidewalk or surface of the ground, and thereby afford the means of keeping the hydrantcase vertical. Said ring being loose, the hydrant-stem may freely move up or down without damage, whether such movement is occasioned by action of frost, the sinking of the ground, or otherwise. Y,

Q is the ordinary nozzle, provided with/'a screw-thread, to which hose may be attached, said nozzles extending to the interior of the water-way, and forming the taper seats for the valves. R It are the nozzle-valves, made of suitable material, and accurately tted t0 the end of the nozzles and in guides, shown at g. Said valves may be used to shut off or let on water from either one or more nozzles independently of the others. S is one of the stems by which the nozzle-valves R are opened or closed. Said stems are provided with a screw-thread, fittingv in the lug of the valve. They are prevented from moving up or down by the collars D D above and below the bridge. rlhe upper end extends through the movable top'of the hydrant-case. L L are supports for the bridge. W, Figs. 1 and 4., is a bridge, to Which are fixed the parts controlling the several valves, Src. U is a union or coupling,

the lower part of which is rigidly xed to the stem J. To the upper portion of said union a rotating screw, V, is connected by a collar and bush, allowing it to rotate independently of the union U. The upper end of the rotating screw is square, and fits in a correspondingly-shaped opening in socket X. The latter rests upon bridge W, and extends through movable top Y, which is provided with guards U U C, to protect the valve stems from being tampered with or injured. z is a guide-bolt tapped into support L, and extends into the slot in union U, serving to prevent said union from turning, but allowing the same to freely move up or down.

The object of the arrangement and combination of parts hereinbefore described is, to produce a fire hydrant or plug having any desirable number of openings for the attacl1 ment of hose, either one or more of which may be opened or closed independently of the others; also, a hydrant-plug which may be removed from or replaced in its site without closing the stop-cocks in the street-mains, or shutting ofi' the water in any portion of the district in which said hydrant may be located, thus avoiding danger in case of a tire occurring, great annoyance to watentakers, as well as the inconvenience and expense necessary to effecting a similar object by placing (as is sometimes done) a stop-valve in the main pipe adjacent to each hydrant. y

Chamber A, with valve H and seat I, may

be used as an eiiective blow-oli' for cleaning main pipes, by iirst removing case and open- .ng the valve.

i The operation necessary to effect the two principal objects referred to above is as foliows:

First, when the hydrant is in order, and is to be used by the re department or others, a suitable wrench is applied to the end f of socket X. The rotation of this part imparts simi- .ar motion to screw V, which, by aid of nut n bridge W and guide-bolt z, causes unionV U and stem J to descend in a straight line, thereby opening main valve K, and allowng waste-valve G, Fig. 7, to close by the :ension of spring 8. Thesupplemental valve El. not having been disturbed, the water from ;he main supply-pipe ilows through and iills ghe entire hydrant-case 0. The cap t, Fig. 2, s removed from one or more of the nozzles Q, and thehose attached thereto. A wrench s then applied to the end f of stem S. By groper rotation, nozzle-valve R is caused to rise by the operation of the male and female icrew on the stem and in the lug on the valve. Ehe same operation takes place upon each at- ;achment of a hose, and a reverse operation or each detachment of a hose. The wasteralve G is inclosed in a tight chamber cast )n the main valve-seat E, thus protecting it from damage, as already stated. When the main valve descends, the spiral spring closes the waste-valve, and prevents water from iiowing through the orifice N. As the main valve K is drawn to its seat, it comes into contact A with the stem 'l of the waste-valve, overcom- Vnuts from bolts 4, 5, 6, &c., are detached, and

the movable head Y removed. The guide-bolt z is withdrawn from the slot in union U, and a piece of round iron of suitable size inserted in small holes in the union, which, being turned in the right direction, revolves the stem J throughout its length, thereby transmitting rotary motion to the supplemental valve H, which, by the operation of the square end of stem J in the correspondingly-formed socket. and the screw-thread on stem B, rises to, and is firmly heldin contact with, seat I, whereby the water from the main pipe is shut oi'.

It' the hydrant-,case is surrounded by the usual box, the bolts l, 2, 3, &c., Fig. 2, are removed, and the entire hydrant-case and its appendages may be removed. y

To put the hydrant back, insert the end of stem J in the square hole of valve H, replace bolts l, 2, 3, 85e., screw valve H to its former position, readj ust the guide-bolt z,.close valve K, replace movable head Y, and the hydrant is ready for use.

Having, in the foregoing specification, fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination, with the main seat E, having, the chamber F, channel N, and lug d wcast therewith, of the stem T and spring 8,

substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. p The combination of the socket X, rotating stemscrew V, union U, guide-bolt z, and main stem J, substantially as and for the purpose herein stated.

3. The top Y, provided with the guards C C C, for the purpose of protecting the ends of the valve-stems S and socket X, in the manner set forth.

Theabove specification of my said invention signed and witnessed at Chicago.

DEWITT Q. CREGIER.

Witnesses:

Ronin. FARoN, HENRY R. WARD. 

